Detachable manure spreader



Nov. 12, 1946. R. P. MESSENGER arm. 2,410,953

DETACHABLE ANDRE SPREADER Filed Nov. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N 4 R. P.MESSENGER ETAL I 2,

DETACHABLE HANURE SPREADER v Filed Nov. 22, 1943 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Nov. 1946 DETACHABLE MANURE SPREADER Robert P. Messenger,Kenilworth, Arnold E. W. Johnson, Oak Park, and William F. Schmied, BlueIsland, 111., assignors to International Harvester Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application November 22, 1943, Serial No.511,284

1 This invention relates to a detachable manure spreader and has for oneof new and improved 'lClaims. (crews-) its principal objects theprovision of means for quickly transforming a general purpose farm cart.2 Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure farm cart tilted and joining thespreader unit;

. Figure 3 is a view similar mi and 2 showing the spreader unit fullyattached and the farm into a, manure spreader. 5 cart in'normal uprightposition;

An important objectof this invention is to Figure 4 is a. detail showingthe sliding gate provide a farm cart and a separate complete means, forlocking the wheel truck in forward or manure spreader unit which is sodesigned as to rearward position;

1 permit a single operator to attach or detach the I Figure 5 is asectional view taken on the line unit to the farm cart as desired. 5-5of Figure 4; v

. Heretofore, manure spreaders have been de- Figure 6 is a detailedperspective view showsigned for the sole purpose of spreading manure,ing the farm cart about to join the spreader and, when not in such use,the vehicle was idle. unit; and

The very nature of the spreader vehicle is that. Figure '1 is'a viewsimilar to Figure 6 showing of an ordinary wagon except for the factthat it the cart and spreader unit completely attached.

is positioned relatively closer to the ground. As shown in thedrawings:-

Most farmers have and ,use wagons for general The reference numeral llindicates generally farm purposes; and it is desirable to adapt same atwo-wheeled farm cart having'a pole or tongue for attachment of aninexpensive spreader unit. means ill with a clevis, as shown at l2,which Small farm owners could not afford to tie up will readily attachto the draw-bar of a tractor their limited capital in a large manurespreader or the like. The wheels are shown at [3, and it which wouldbe'idle for the major portion of will be noted that they are normallyslightly to the time. Yet these small farmers must necesthe rear of thecenter of the cart as shown in sarily have wagons or carts, and it is,therefore Figure 1. A leg member is shown at it having a an importantobject of the present invention to ground-engaging foot l6 positioned atthe forprovide a small farm cart capable of having a ward end of thecart and for use when the cart manure spreader unit detachably mountedon is not attached to any draft vehicle. When the one end thereof andthereby transform the farm clevis I2 is attached to some draft vehicle,the cartto aspreader. leg I4 is moved-to an upward position withinAnother important object of this invention is a fixed sleeve 15. Thisshifting of the'leg I4 is the provision of a longitudinal shiftablewheel accomplished by the removal of a pin 20, or the truck to permitefiicient transformation of a like, which may be again inserted when theleg farm cart to a spreader. is in its uppermost position and thereuponmain- A further important object of this invention is tains the leg insuch upward position. to provide an open rear end cart capable of Amanure spreader unit is show'n at ll and receiving a spreader unit andthus closing the has a pair of spaced apart side plates as shown openrear end. at l8 for rearward ccntinuations of the sides l9 A stillfurther important object is the proof the cart ll. Mounted intermediatethe side vision of an open rear-end cart and a spreader plat s 8 a a s fr a tat n and sp eading unit having alinable interengageable detachable40 the manure as it leaves the cart. These means locking means at theirrespective side edges. are substantially standard and include rotatingAnother and still further importantobject of heaters (not shown) and awide spreading auger this invention is to provide an open rear end asshown at 2!. This auger 2| is equipped with tiltable wheeled cartadapted to detachably ensaw-tooth points a fl the P p y of'the gage aproximately positioned spreader unit when auger iiighting as designatedby the numeral 22. the cart is in tilted position and pick up the Theheaters and the spreading auger 2| are ro-. spreader unit in rear'endclosing relation to the flt y driven y a Suitable means Such'as the cartwhen the latter is returned to untilted Do take-Off from a tract-01 yConnection position. to the ground-engaging wheels l3.

Other and further important objects of this As shown in Figure 1, thefarm cart may be invention will become apparent from the disused as agenr P p e. cart in ny p y closures in the following specification andaethe farm owner desires. The axle 23 is journaled companying drawings,in which: within rectangular bearings, as shown at 24, po-

Figure '1 is a side elevation of the farm cart sitioned on each side ofthe farm cartl Dependand spreader unit previous to attaching; 66 mgbrackets 26 are fixedly attached beneath the 1 with the cart andadjacent each side. These brackets 28 have elongated rectangular slotsas shown at 21 within which the bearings 24 are adapted to slide. A gate28, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, is hinged on the rod 29 at 30,which is journaled in the spaced apart projections 3| of the bracket 28.The gate 28 is adapted to slide along the length of the rod 29 withinthe supporting projections 3|. It will be noted that the rod 29 ismounted inside the bracket 28, and the gate 28, therefore, swingsinwardly and downwardly on its hinge rod 29. A latch member 32, pivotedon gate 28 at 33, is adapted to be turned to a vertical position andthus maintain the gate 28 in an upward position by reason of the upperend of the latch 32 overlapping the side wall of the bracket 26. Thewheel axle 23, as best shown in Figure 5, is equipped with a. pair ofannular shoulders 46 spaced apart so that, as shown in this Figure 5,each rectangular bearing member 24 may abut a shoulder 48 and hencecause the bearings to remain within the rectangular slots 21 in thebrackets 28.

As previously stated, the farm cart, as shown in Figure 1, is forgeneral pm'pose duty and, therefore, it is desired to have the wheels l3at a position substantially centrally of the cart to better assume thecart load. A regular manure spreader has its wheels at the rearof thecart to compensate for the added weight of the spreader unit If thewheels were positioned at the rear for general purpose cart use, thedraft vehicle would be carrying the load rather than the cart. In thepresent device the wheels [3 may be locked in either a forward orrearward position. To accomplish a shifting of the wheel truck in eitherdirection, the gates 28 are unlatched and turned downwardly about thehinge rods 29, whereupon the rectangular-bearings 24 are free to slidethe length of the slots 21. When these bearings are in either end of theslots, the gates may be swung into position in the slots and thuscomplement the bearings so that the slots 21 are completely filled. Thiscondition prevents further movement until the gates 28 are again turneddownwardly.

It is customary for manure spreaders to employ longitudinally runningchains having cross slats at intervals therearound and extending thelength of the farm cart and ruiming in the bottom thereof. This chain 34with the cross slats 38 is shown in Figures 3 and and is driven byrotation of the ratchet wheel 31 which is engageable by a pawl 38pivoted on an arm 39, capable of being raised or lowered by the crankdrive 4| and the connecting arm 42. An additional cam means 43 isadapted to tilt the arm 39 and thereupon cause a greater or lessernumber of ratchet teeth to be engaged by the pawl 38. This variableratchet feeddevice is explained in greater detail in a copendingapplication having Serial No. 515,338, filed December 23, 1943.

The spreader unit IT has a pair of forwardly extending brackets 41,bolted, or otherwise attached to the side plates l8 at 48, and having attheir forward ends outwardly flared open-end sockets 48. These open-endsockets 49 are best shown in Figures 6 and 7 and have a downwardlycurved lower lip,5l and an upwardly curved upper lip 52. A second pairof forwardly projecting brackets 53 are provided above the brackets 41and are fastened similar to the brackets 41 by means of bolts 0 the like54. The side plates 18 of the spreader unit have an outwardly turnedflange 58 which extends around the periphery thereof, and through whichthe brackets 53 and the open-end sockets 48 project. The forwardprojecting portions 81 of the brackets 53 are equipped with verticalslots or passages 58.

The farm cart I I', having an open rear end and sides is, has a stud 59projecting outwardly from both sides thereof atv diametrically oppositepositions at the lower rear end of the farm cart. The studs 59 arewelded, or otherwise fastened, to an extension 8| of the sides Ill. Therear end of the sides l9 has outwardly turned flanges 82 and as shown inFigures 6 and '7 are equipped with a pair of vertically spaced guideplates 83 and 84. Pins 88 are adapted to slide through apertures 81 inthe upper bracket 84. The pins 88 have coextensive downwardly projectingrod portions 88. The rods 68 pass through apertures 88 within the lowerplate 83. Intermediate the plates 63 and 84, and surrounding the rods88, are springs H adapted to normally force the pins 88 upwardly throughthe upper plate 84. The pins 68 are substantially rectangular in shape,and the springs H around the coextensive rods 88 engage the outer endsof the rectangular pins and thereupon propel the pins upwardly. Thelower end ofthe spring II is restrained from a downward movement byreason of the plate 83. A connecting rod 12 is attached to the lower endof the rod 88 and has its other end fastened to one end "of a lever 14at 82. The lever 14 is pivoted at 16 on the extension bracket 8|, and

upon an upward movement of the handle portion 11, the connecting rod 12pulls the pins 88 downwardly.

Slots '8 are positioned adjacent the pins 88 in the side end flanges 82,and thereupon a downward movement of the pins 88 frees the passages inaxial alinemen't with the slots 18. The lever 74 is positioned close tothe rear of the farm cart I I, and inasmuch as it is very desirable tobe able to depress the pins 86 from a position adjacent the forward endof the cart, a cable or rod extension 19 is attached to the end 13 ofthe lever 14 at 8|, which is below the attaching point 82 for theconnecting arm 12. The end 13 of the lever 14 is substantiallytriangular in shape so that the attaching point 82 is above the pivotpoint 16 and the attaching point 8| with the rod 19 is below the pivotpoint 18. It will be evident, therefore, that a pulling movement on therod 19 will effect a depressing of the pins 86 similar to an upwardmovement of the handle 11. A hand lever 834's, therefore, provided nearthe forward end of the farm cart and is pivoted at 84 on the side wallsIS. The rod 18 attaches to the hand lever 83 at 81, A forward movementof a'downward extension 88 of the lever 83 will cause a forward pullingof the rod 19 and thus depress the pins 88. The farm cart has beendescribed as having an open end, but of course when it is not to be usedas a manure spreader, a rear closing gate may be provided. Such a. gatecould be equipped with interlocking elements similar to those employedon the spreader unit.

As shown in Figure 1, the spreading attachment rests firmly on theground so that the slotted extensions 51 and open-end slots 48 lieapproximately at an angle of ,60 to the ground. This angle may be anyacute angle necessary to complement the angle of the rear edge 88 of thefarm cart II when the farm cart is tilted upwardly as best shown inFigure 2'. When the wheel truck is in its forward position, the farmcart easily tilts about the Wheels so that its rear end inclinesdownwardly, and upon moving the lever 83 forwardiy by its handle 88, thestuds 59 are able to lodge within the open ends of the sockets 49 andthe projections 51 may advance through the slots 18, whereupon areleasing of the handle 88 permits the spring II to actuate and propelthe pins 86 upwardly through the now alined slots 88 in the projections51. This operation is best shown in Figures 6 and '7, and after the pinshave penetrated the slots 58, the spreading unit I1 is firmly attachedto the farm cart. The next op- "eration is to drape the slotted chain 34around the bottom of the farm cart and engage sprockets (not shown) onthe shaft 44 in the spreader unit. The additional weight added to theend of the farm cart by the spreader unit i1 is such,

with the wheels i 8 in a forward position as-shown in Figure 1, that thespreader is materially unbalanced and the load on the draft vehiclewould be excessive. Hence, the gates 28 are unlatched by turning thelatch members 32 and dropped about the hinge rods 29, and the wheeltruck, with its axle 23 and bearings 24, is shifted rearwardly withinthe rectangular slots 21 to the rear end thereof, as best shown inFigure 3. The hinged gates 28 are again brought upwardly and latchedagainst the bracket 28, and the bearings 24 are maintained in the rearend of the slots 21. Such positioning of the axle and wheels gives addedsupport to the point where the load is the greatest and thus diminishesthe load on the draft vehicle.

The spreader unit can be as readily detached as it was attached and in amanner just opposite to that of the attaching operation. In other words,the farm cart is tilted upwardly about its wheels l8 to the point wherethe spreader unit rests on the ground at the two points as shown,namely. under the ratchet 81 at 9| and at the spreading auger at 82. Thehandle 88 is pulled forwardly and pins 66 are removed from the slots 58,and immediately upon letting the farm cart down, 21;; spreading unit isdetached from the farm It is obvious that numerous details of thequick-attachable spring'latch, as .well as the details for the shiftablewheel truck may be changed materially without departing fromthe form ofthe invention disclosed herein, and it is, therefore, the intention thatthe patent be limited only within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a tiltable cart having a longitudinally shiftablewheel truck lockable in forward'or rearward positions in relation to thecart, a spreader unit, and means for attaching the spreader unit to therear of the cart by tilting said cart when the wheel truck is locked inits forward position and engaging the rear of the cart with the spreaderunit, and means for lockingv said wheel truck in a rearward positionwhen the spreader unit is attached. a

2. In combination, a tiltable cart, a spreader unit, means for attachingthe spreader unit to the rear of the cart by tilting said cart andthereby engaging it with the unit, said means for the rear of the cartby tilting said cart and there by engaging-it with said unit, said meansfor attaching comprising projecting studs on said cart and cooperativesockets on said spreader unit. spring retained pins on said cart andcooperative slotted brackets on said spreader unit, said pins andbrackets disposed above said studs and sockets.

4. In combination, a tiltable cart, a spreader unit, means for attachingthe spreader unit to the rear of the cart by tilting said cart andthereby engaging it with said unit, said means for attaching comprisingprojecting studs on said cart and cooperative sockets on said spreaderunit, spring retained pins on said cart and cooperative slotted bracketson said spreader unit, said pins and brackets disposed above said studsand sockets, and means for retracting said pins whereby the slottedbrackets may be inserted into the positions previously occupied by said'pins.

. 5. In combination, a tiltable cart, a'spreader unit, means forattaching the spreaderunitjto the rear of the cart by tilting said cartand-there:

whereby the slotted brackets may be inserted into' the normal pinposition with the slots in alinement with the pins, said means forretracting the pins comprising a lever pivotable on said cart beneathsaid pins, connecting links extending between the pins and-one end ofsaid lever, whereby movement of the other end of said lever will effectpin movement.

6. In combination, a tiltable cart, a spreader unit, means for attachingthe spreader unit. to the rear of the cart by tilting said cart andthereby engaging it with the unit, said means for attaching comprisingprojecting studs on said cart and cooperative sockets on said spreaderunit, spring retained pins on said cart and cooperative slotted bracketson said spreader unit, said pins and brackets disposed above said studsand sockets, and means for retracting said pins whereby the slottedbrackets may be inserted into pin position, said means for retractingthe pins comprising a lever pivotable on said cart beneath said pins,connecting links extending between the pins and one end of said lever,whereby movement of the other end of said lever will effect pinmovement, an auxiliary hand operating lever positioned adjacent theforward end of the cart and adapted to move concurrently with said firstlever.

7. In combination, a two-wheeled cart having a pair of oppositelyprojecting fixed studs at its lower rear end, retracti-ble pin meansabove said projecting ,studs, a spreader unit having a pair of forwardlyopen sockets at the lower forward portion thereof, and a slotted bracketabove said sockets, whereby said studs are adapted to engage saidsockets and said retractible pin means is adapted to engage said slottedbracket.

